Protecting People and Property from Wildfires
Protecting Yourself and Property From Wildfires Wildfire season typically begins in May and stretches through October. However, because of higher than normal temperatures and drought conditions due to climate change, Western states like California, Oregon and Washington are seeing the wildfire season start earlier and end later each year. Nationally, there were 58,985 wildfires reported in 2021, compared to 58,950 wildfires reported the year before, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. Of the reported wildfires, 7.1 million acres burned in 2021 compared to 10.1 in 2020. Additionally, a total of 5,972 structures were reported destroyed by wildfires in 2021. That number included 3,577 residences, 2,225 minor structures and 237 commercial/mixed residential structures, according to the NICC. The state with the highest number of structures lost in 2021 was California with 2,031 residences, 196 commercial/mixed residential structures and 1,136 minor structures, the NIC